2014-05-29 Council Workshop minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the Council Workshop
Held Tuesday, May 29, 2014
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a workshop of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights,
Minnesota was held at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Krebsbach called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. The following members were present:
Councilmembers Duggan, Norton, Petschel, and Povolny (arrived at 3:20 pm). Also in attendance: City
Administrator Justin Miller, Assistant to the Administrator/HR Coordinator Tammy Schutta, Public Works
Director John Mazzitello, Finance Director Kristen Schabacker, Planner Nolan Wall, and Recreation
Coordinator Sloan Wallgren.
Upon consensus of the Council, the items listed in the agenda packet for discussion were reordered to
accommodate the schedule of the council.
CABLE FRANCHISE RENEWAL UPDATE
NDC4 Executive Director Jodie Miller and their legal counsel, Brian Grogan, updated the council on the
franchise renewal process and current status. They also provided the council with an update on the
proposed Comcast/Time Warner merger and its impact to the Twin Cities and Mendota Heights. The
council expressed concern with the prospect of cable operations in Mendota Heights being transferred to an
unknown entity and discussed possible lobbying efforts, such as letters to our federal legislators and
coordination with Fortune 500 companies in the area who might be negatively impacted. Ms. Miller
indicated that she would continue to update the city council as needed through this process.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
In response to recent complaints about new residential construction activities, staff updated the council on
the current code requirements for new residential projects. Council discussed options for protecting
existing neighborhoods, solar access, and preserving private property rights. Planner Wall noted that one
possibility would be to limit the manner in which new developments could change the existing grade of a
lot to diminish the height impacts of new construction. The council directed staff to continue to look at
options and present to council at a later date.
INSTITUTIONAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES
In response to planning commission concerns, the council discussed how to better handle the significant
number of variance requests resulting from applications from non-residential uses in the residential zones.
Council discussed how to best address these requests and directed staff to provide an inventory of recent
variance requests and to begin researching how to develop a formula, based on parcel size, which would
allow larger, non-residential uses to meet their needs without requiring continued variances.
PRAYER AT PUBLIC MEETINGS
The council, in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling, discussed the possibility of opening city council
meetings with a prayer. Councilmember Duggan noted that the City of South St. Paul does this and
suggested that staff contact there to get a history of how they implement this practice. Councihnember
Petschel suggested a city-wide, multi -denominational prayer breakfast may be a solution as well. No
direction was provided to change the current practice.
INDUSTRIAL PARK STATUS UPDATE
Administrator Miller provided a brief synopsis of recent activity in the industrial park and noted that as the
area begins to age, it may be time to start visioning the next phase of redevelopment. Discussion ensued
about vacancy rates, lack of amenities, and potential developments. Council directed staff to continue to
look for planning grant opportunities and to start developing a map showing building vacancies in the
industrial park.
GAS AND ELECTRIC FRANCHISE FEE DISCUSSION
Miller presented preliminary 2015 budget considerations and how a franchise fee on gas and electric bills
might be implemented. The council discussed the pros and cons of establishing such a fee and agreed that
if implemented, it should be transparent and dedicated to a specific use, such as debt service for
infrastructure improvements. No decisions were made, but staff was directed to further research the topic
in relation to renewing franchise agreements with Xcel Energy for the 2015 budget cycle.
DOG PARK SITE REVIEW
Recreation Coordinator Wallgren summarized the Parks and Recreation Commission's findings about
establishing a dog park in the city. The Parks and Recreation Commission decided not to endorse any site
and reaffirmed their recommendation to allow off -leash dogs in the hockey rinks. The council briefly
discussed proposed sites, including the St. Paul/Lilydale Park site. The council directed staff to present a
council action at an upcoming meeting that would direct staff to begin discussions with the City of St. Paul
about the status of their proposed dog park and investigate any possible partnership opportunities.
WATER SYSTEM UPDATE
City Engineer/Public Works Director John Mazzitello summarized options with the city council regarding
the water system contract renewal with St. Paul Regional Water Services. The council discussed the
various options (status quo agreement or turning the system back to SPRWS) and the conditions that would
need to be met in order for the city to be comfortable with turning the system over. Staff was directed to
begin discussions with SPRWS about contract negotiations and to propose terns that would need to be met
in order to turn the system over to SPRWS.
Mayor Krebsbach adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.
ATTEST 1
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
San ra Krebsbach, yor
May 29, 2014 Mendota Heights Council Workshop Page 2